Raytheon Plans Indian Maintenance Facility
Raytheon Aircraft, spurred by the sale in India of 20 aircraft in two years (as well as five in barely the first two months of this year) has announced plans to firm its foundation in that country by building a repair and maintenance facility in association with an FBO there. The company hopes to deliver up to 12 aircraft to buyers in the country this year, building on its 14-month Indian bizjet sales tally of $90 million. A Raytheon facility and FBO in India would cater to those aircraft and all other callers, but Raytheon has yet to announce a specific partner for the project. One thing is clear: The company is seeking entities interested in taking up the locally rare project as a joint venture.
Raytheon Aircraft, spurred by the sale in India of 20 aircraft in two years (as well as five in barely the first two months of this year) has announced plans to firm its foundation in that country by building a repair and maintenance facility in association with an FBO there. The company hopes to deliver up to 12 aircraft to buyers in the country this year, building on its 14-month Indian bizjet sales tally of $90 million. A Raytheon facility and FBO in India would cater to those aircraft and all other callers, but Raytheon has yet to announce a specific partner for the project. One thing is clear: The company is seeking entities interested in taking up the locally rare project as a joint venture. Toward that end, industry estimates may help woo Raytheon's future co-conspirator as forecasts project India's current universe of 150-or-so business jets to swell beyond 500 in number by 2010. Raytheon says it is already in early talks with a few prospective partners, but the fine details -- including the division of shared financial burdens -- have not yet been addressed.